Page 42 of Grasp The Moment

Delilah’s small hand presses on my shoulder as she looks up at me. “Is it okay if I sit on your lap? I can’t see…”

I don’t hesitate.

Picking Delilah up, I set her down on my lap and make sure she’s comfortable as I continue to make finishing touches to my makeup, but I can’t shake the fact that she’s watching.

As a little girl, I would spend hours in my mom’s room, watching as she did her hair and makeup every morning. I would create small fashion shows with her clothes and try to do everything in my mother’s image.

My shoulders lower as thoughts of her cloud my brain. I love her—I do. But now, when I think of her, all I can see is the look of pure hurt and betrayal on her face when I told her that Dad was having an affair with his secretary.

I’ve never been disappointed in my mother. Ever. But that day, when the betrayal and hurt cleared from her eyes, there was only one thing left.

Defeat.

I’ll never understand her motives, never truly grasp how the woman who’d always taught me to be strong and independent stayed when a man treated her how my father did.

I’ll never understand how sheknewof his infidelity and didn’t leave immediately, but I will understand that she is also just a girl.

Looking down at Delilah, I smile and lean in close to her.

“You want some glitter?” I ask, whispering in her ear.

“Can I?” She gasps, her tiny hands flying to her mouth, and I nod.

“Delilah, every girl should always sparkle.”

“Boo!! Can I make this thing louder? BOO!” I shout into my miniature megaphone from behind the plexiglass of the boy aquarium, watching as players skate like their lives depend on it.

Derek has beeninsanethis entire game.

I don’t know much about hockey besides this: Boys go into the boy aquarium, they fight, they hit little pucks, pucks go into the goal—SFU wins.

And honestly, I think that’s all I truly need to know about the sport.

Derek has blocked every single puck from the opposing team. I don’t know how he does it. He’s quick on his feet, moving from side to side in the goal, sometimes skating onto the ice a bit, crouching when he needs to.

It’s like watching a dance where the audience is up close and personal with the dancers.

“Go, Papá, go!” Delilah cheers from next to me, her tiny pigtails shaking vigorously as she bounces up and down.

Grimacing, I plaster on a smile.

I may have given the kid too many cupcakes today…

Chuckling to myself, knowing that I did in fact give the kid a load of sugar, I focus my attention back on the game.

Derek is wired up, buzzing with life as he waits for the guys to circle near him with the puck. I’m on high alert as I watch for any danger on the ice; there are giant hockey players everywhere, but my eyes are trained on him.

I’m so focused on Derek that I see it instantly when a player from an opposing team skates toward him with ferocity. He’s like a bull that’s seen red. I’m on the edge of my seat watching as the player continues skating, a stop nowhere in sight.

“Watch it, kid.” A man’s words bring me back to my seat, raising my hackles.

Quickly, my eyes veer over to Delilah, who is sitting on her knees, watching the game and eating her apple slices. She’s causing zero harm and is nowhere in the man's eye line, but he’s eyeing her up and down with disgust.

“You’re blocking everyone’s?—”

Twisting my entire body, I cut the man with a glare that could kill. “I’d advise you not to talk to her. She isn’t blocking your view.”

The man rolls his eyes at me, gesturing to the unbothered four-year-old. “A kid shouldn’t even be at an event like this. You’re a horrible parent. Now, fuck off. I’m trying to watch the game.”